Trey Strecker at Ball State asked me to pass along this call for papers related to a conference next spring. His contact information is included:
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NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture announces the 16th annual spring training conference on the Historical and Sociological Impact of Baseball.

March 12-15
Airport Clarion Hotel/Tucson, AZ

Original, unpublished papers that study all aspects of baseball are invited. A particular emphasis is placed on papers that emphasize history and/or social policy implications. Abstracts only, not to exceed 300 words, should be submitted by December 1, 2008 to:

Nine Spring Training Conference
c/o Trey Strecker
Dept. of English
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
E-mail: tstrecker@bsu.edu

Authors will be notified as quickly as possible whether their papers have been accepted. Authors are required to register for the conference and present their work in person. The conference will include morning sessions, a Saturday evening banquet, and opportunities for afternoon "field research."

Keynote speaker: Peter Morris
Featured guest: Arnold Hano

Registration: Conference registration forms are available online. The $175 conference fee includes the Saturday evening banquet and tickets for two spring training games, if paid prior to December 1, 2008. After December 1 the conference fee will be $195 and game tickets are not guaranteed.

Attendees can register in one of two ways. Those wishing to pay online can use PayPal through the link provided on the NINE website. Those wishing to pay by check can print their registration information and send it along with their conference fee to:

Dan and Jean Ardell (dardell @roadrunner.com or jeanardell @yahoo.com)
P.O. Box 482
Corona del Mar, CA 92665

For hotel registration contact the Clarion Tucson Airport, 800-526-0550. Rates are $89 single and $99 double. To ensure the conference rate, rooms must be booked prior to March 5, 2009. When booking be sure to mention the conference name.